Saturday, June 29, 2013

EDITOR'S NOTE: On 22 Feb 2017, I added some new information and changed some of the language to soften the tone.

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Ever wonder what you'd do if the Starship Enterprise suddenly popped into orbit over Earth out of nowhere and you were named by the ship's computer as the Captain? I know that I have many times.

This list is gonna be long. Anything I do with the ship will be geared towards making the world's transition to a MUCH more peaceful/prosperous society at a manageable pace. Too much at once will leave society bewildered and unable to cope with its new abilities and the responsibilities that come with them. Also, I don't expect Humanity to ever achieve that seemingly Utopian society portrayed in Star Trek or solve all of its most pressing problems in my lifetime. This is just to get the ball rolling and give my successors in this mission a good head start.

When writing this, I'm thinking of the Galaxy ClassEnterpriseNCC-1701-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation. That's the ship that I grew up watching on TV (along with TOS re-runs and the TOS movies), and I'm more familiar with it than any of the others. That being said, most of these ideas could still be done with any of the other ships named Enterprise in the whole Star Trek franchise; Prime Universe, Mirror Universe or Abramsverse.

I.) Initial practical concerns

A.) Figure out how I got there, if the ship is going to blow up/lose power/fall out of orbit sometime soon and make the necessary corrections.

B.) Figure out if it's just this one ship or if there's a fleet/bases/shipyards/support services to go along with it and then if I can control them too.

C.) Ask the computer if it knows what happened to the crew, assuming there was one at some time. (And that there are none aboard when I get there...)

D.) Ask the computer if it knows why I was brought aboard and who's responsible.

E.) Raise the shields and go to Red Alert, just in case someone on Earth panics and decides to launch Nuclear Missiles at me.

F.) If there's a fleet and not just the one ship, start deploying the fleet's assets throughout the Solar System to set up defense perimeters. Just because I'm busy cleaning up a mess on Earth doesn't mean I can ignore the possibility of hostile aliens out there in the universe.

II.) Keeping Earth from panicking and doing something stupid...

A.) Contact various political authorities on Earth (especially the U.S. Government) via radio transmission. Either a text-based message or an audio transmission with a voice filter will be used, to ensure my anonymity. Let them know I'm Human, American, not a threat to them and NOT interested in sharing my technology with them for the foreseeable future.

They will also be told that trying to board the ship/take the technology and hardware by force will have 'unfortunate' consequences. In simpler language, I'd institute General Order 24 from the classic TOS episode 'A Taste of Armageddon' and have the ship start bombing cities. Or, so I'll let them believe. That should keep them from doing anything rash. However, it's unlikely that I would start firing on Earth. Weapons systems in orbit are actually against international law, courtesy of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

B.) I'll also explain to them that I will NOT reveal my identity to them for several years, if ever. After all, some of this technology is going to be VERY different from the show, simply due to real world physics. It will take some time to study the technology and become its master. (I won't tell people on Earth that little detail, though. It's best to let them think I'm already quite familiar with using the ship's technology, especially the weapons.) In the mean time, they can just refer to me by my radio handle, Captain Kirk.

C.) It will also be standing Starfleet policy that everyone commanding a ship named Enterprise in this fleet (assuming there is a fleet) will use 'Captain Kirk' as their name over any form of ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore transmission/communication. This allows for the Commanding Officer/Only crewmember to maintain anonymity and walk around on Earth without being mobbed by people. A man deserves to have a private life.

Besides, if there's a ship named Enterprise, there has to be a Captain named James T. Kirk. It's too ingrained into people's minds by popular culture. Picard will never be as popular or as well-known, despite being a very good starship commander.

D.) Establish some kind of online presence for 'Captain Kirk' and the Enterprise via social media. This way, I can communicate with the world and let them know that I'm actually quite Human and personable, despite the fact that I have to keep my true identity a secret. It will also be a great way to keep them informed of all the good things that the Enterprise and/or Starfleet is doing for the world.

III.) Using the technology to make the world a better place and become *quite* rich...

Automotive/Transportation

A.) Use some of the shuttlecraft propulsion technology (or whatever else will do for this particular application) to replace the internal combustion engine in cars.

A.) The barrier islands and bayous of South Louisiana will be restored by whatever means are necessary/available to me. That region is VERY important to the U.S. (and world) economy and it must be protected from devastating natural disasters at all costs.

B.) Nuclear waste will be beamed into lead-lined containers orbiting the Earth and either vaporized with the ship's energy weapons (I'm not going to assume that they are called Phasers on a real-life version of the ship) or towed to a safe dumping site with no lifeforms, like the Sun, surface of Venus or Jupiter's moon Io. Anyplace where Humans are never likely to go.

C.) Replace current methods of electricity generation with sustainable and safe nuclear fusion reactors. Place them in areas with low populations and where air-tight security can be maintained to ensure Terrorists can't easily attack these important facilities.

D.) Tell those idiots in Washington to use the food they buy through farm subsidies to feed starving people instead of letting it go to waste in grain silos. American farmers grow enough food every year to literally feed the world. Much of it goes to waste because of some bureaucratic government policy that was enacted shortly before and during the Great Depression to artificially inflate farm prices. Not only is it wasteful, it never actually worked in its intended purpose to keep farmers in business. As far as I'm concerned, this practice is inhumane and downright sinful.

Healthcare

A.) Devise a machine that will infuse nanites pre-programmed to locate/destroy certain bacteriological/viral diseases and foreign objects in the body into a patient's bloodstream via IV. AIDS, Cancer tumors, Influenza, Malaria and many other diseases could be treated, cured and/or destroyed this way.

B.) Introduce just enough genetic engineering knowledge/ability to the world to correct serious genetic disorders like Down Syndrome, Classical Autism, blindness, et al. The decision to use this technology on minors will be left to their parents. The technology will also be VERY strictly controlled to make damned sure we don't accidentally create a real-life Khan Noonien Singh. I'm not 100% sure how that will be accomplished but, it must be done.

D.) Tell Washington D.C. that NONE of these medical miracles will become available to the public until Obamacare is rescinded. Washington bureaucrats (especially those ASSHOLES at the IRS) should NEVER have a say in anyone's Healthcare decisions.

IT and related Technological areas of the global economy, including entertainment...

A.) Use some of the ship's computer technology to develop workable/easy-to-use replacements for current (and easily hackable) operating systems like Windows and MacOS. Copyright the software and release to the public via retail for a nominal fee of no more than $50. Laugh as Microsoft and Apple become MUCH smaller companies and are actually forced to compete like everyone else.

B.) Sell my own Desktops/Laptops/Tablets, pre-loaded with the OS and other software at a reasonable price. Laugh as my competitors consistently FAIL to compete with me in any significant way, even though I made the OS x86 compatible and available for licensing like M$ did with DOS & Windows.

C.) Speaking of gaming... I think I'll be buying Nintendo with my new riches and using them to release new consoles that utilize VR tech, possibly even 'Holodecks for the Home' one day. When that happens, the eventual 'Atari Greatest Hits' package that will be released for the system (like every other system since the N64/Saturn/PS1 generation has had) will be a program featuring a 1980's-era arcade with holodeck recreations of the actual arcade machines themselves. :)

D.) While I'm at it, I may as well buy Atari and have them produce some killer apps for the Nintendo consoles. The company that essentially created the Gaming business deserves to be better than what they are now. Same goes for SEGA, especially with the Sonic franchise. I know they can do better by the Blue Hedgehog that once made them a major contender. Sonic Generations proved that to me beyond shadow of a doubt. I love the 3DS version of the game so much that I'm going to order the PS3 version from Amazon sometime very soon.

E.) Release a digital music player like the iPod Touch but with MUCH more memory than anyone could reasonably use. It will also utilize a LOT more formats than just MP3 and AIFF. Good luck competing with that, Apple... (Assuming I didn't buy them out and release my music player under their brand name...)

F.) Purchase CBS & Paramount so that the TV & Film properties of the Star Trek universe are reunited. Then, bring the franchise back to Television once we have a good concept and cast with good chemistry. The mistakes that happened with Voyager and Enterprise will not be allowed to happen again. Since I happen to own CBS as well, I will make sure that the series gets a good slot in PrimeTime during a week night. None of this 'Fridays at 10' Non-sense will be tolerated.

G.) Invest the Trillions I'm sure to make into various charitable projects to improve environmental quality, education and living standards all over the world.

H.) Make sure at least a few Billion of those Dollars are left in a few Swiss Bank accounts that I can access and that Uncle Sam can't tax. That should ensure that I can always pay my bills and provide a comfortable living for my progeny.

IV.) Political Concerns...

This section is going to be a little Machiavellian but, that can't be avoided. Not everyone in the world is friendly and/or rational. After all, Diplomacy is the 'fine art of letting other people have your way'...

A.) Have the United States send two ambassadors of a sort, one civilian and one military, to my ship to personally confer with me on occasion. Their regular visits to the Enterprise will be on a monthly basis and limited to a few hours at most. They will bring written messages from the President to me via diplomatic bag and I will send responses to the POTUS the same way. The ambassadors will probably never know what the messages actually say.

These ambassadors will be people that I handpick myself and will not be forced to take the job if they don't want to participate. I've already got a long list of candidates in mind and know exactly who I'd pick. All of them are people I know personally and that can be trusted to keep my identity secret. It will also NOT be revealed to Uncle Sam that these people actually knew me before I became the 'real-life Captain Kirk.' That could put them in an awkward and/or potentially dangerous position. (Not to mention making them frequent targets of scumbag Paparazzi...)

B.) Help the U.S. and NATO to eradicate terror groups wherever possible via transporting SpecOps units into certain regions of the world and extracting them again later.

This will be done via Shuttlecraft and whatever teleportation technology is available to me. (The Transporters as portrayed in Star Trek won't work for numerous reasons, including the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.)

C.) Let ALL of the big shots in power all over the world know that I am watching them VERY closely and that misbehaving could be 'rather detrimental to their careers', to say the least.

After all, we want these politickin' crooks/pezzonovante to be afraid of their citizens. That, in theory at least, ensures they'll go out of their way to protect our Liberty and NOT try to grab power for themselves. Party affiliation and whether or not I voted for them won't be a consideration. They will all be treated the same.

D.) I'll strongly advise the Big Shots in Washington to straighten out the U.N. and SOON. That organization has become a Paper Tiger and a HUGE waste of the American people's taxpayer dollars.

E.) I'll have the song 'Angry Chair' by Alice in Chains played over the ship's PA system when I first take the Captain's Chair... And on every radio station in town when I am declared honorary Emperor of New Orleans and take my throne...

\m/O_O\m/

V.) Space Exploration

A.) Provide opportunities for NASA to use a few of my Shuttlecraft for exploration missions inside the Solar System. If there's a fleet and not just the one ship, we might let them use a small science vessel instead. They will be strictly supervised and weapons will be disabled/removed from the vessels.

B.) Send a few probes out into Interstellar Space to replace/relieve the aging Pioneer and Voyager probes that NASA launched decades ago. Those probes will be recovered, have remaining nuclear fuel removed, cleaned up and put on display at the Smithsonian.

C.) Make plans for Interstellar Exploration and Terraforming Mars (if that's even possible) starting when I finally reveal myself to the public, if I decide to reveal myself to them in some way. My real name is liable to remain a secret forever.

If there's a fleet, it will be a fleet heading out into the unknown. If all I have is the Enterprise, then it will be warp-capable shuttlecraft and the Stardrive section. The Saucer will remain at home to act as the enforcer of Starfleet policy on Earth. Even without Warp engines, it's still more than capable of carrying out all of the ship's usual missions concerning Earth. Hopefully, we'll find a few uninhabited/unclaimed Class-M planets to use for colonization and LOTS of natural resources for our civilization's consumption.

D.) Once Mars is Terraformed (or we find another Class-M planet somewhere), start moving some of Earth's overflowing population there. There's bound to be a LOT of volunteers since Mars will offer a fresh start and a chance to explore/build an all-new world. I'm still not sure how they would get there if all I have is the one ship. I'd probably have to work with Earth-bound Space Agencies (NASA, ESA, Intercosmos, et al.) to build colony ships that transport thousands at a time.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Bring the JJ-Verse crew to Television after a good run of movies. Make the series like The Original Series in its writing style and tone but, with modern FX. Re-use the excellent music from The Original Series, if possible. The short skirts on the female members of the crew are a must. In general, women in the Military like to look pretty too. It's a pity that the real-life military tends to discourage that in many ways...

Idea #2...

- New ship and crew in the 24th Century Prime Universe, sometime after the Dominion War.

- Ship's mission is patrol through the still devastated Alpha/Beta Quadrants, assisting with rebuilding efforts and maintaining galactic order. That kind of set-up could bring back the 'Old West in space' kind of feel that made The Original Series awesome.

- I'm not opposed to an alien captain but, it has to be someone that a TV audience can relate to and understand. Vulcans, Trill, Bajorans and Betazoids would probably work best.

- If the captain is Vulcan, I'd like to see him be comfortable with admitting that he has emotions but just doesn't express them in public. Vulcans would consider that bad form. However, the audience can still see him enjoy them in private. (Examples include wearing colorful civilian clothes and/or enjoying music in his quarters while off duty.) Or, we can see this Vulcan Captain 'bring down the shields' and spend his off-hours trying to relieve the stress that's brought on by having to 'play the Good Vulcan' while on duty. We've never actually seen a Vulcan do that before. Anything Spock did doesn't necessarily set up any kind of precedent because he's not fully Vulcan.

- The ship doesn't have to be a new design. Re-using one of the ship designs from one of the '2nd Generation' shows set in the 24th Century (The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager) would cut down on the show's development costs and help the audience be more comfortable with the new show right from the start. That might prove crucial since the setting is a galaxy recovering from war's devastation and filled with conspiracy and intrigue. That's not your typical rosy 'let's see what kind of mysteries we can uncover in the Great Unknown' type of setting you expect from Star Trek.

- If an old design is used, I prefer the Galaxy Class. The in-universe explanation can be "Starfleet needed a vessel that's both tactically capable and made for exploration, to help keep people motivated and 'waving the flag', so to speak." The actual reason is just because I want to see a Galaxy Class starship on TV again. Feel free to make whatever kind of interior/technological upgrades you need WITHOUT GOING CRAZY (i.e. faster engines, better computers, et al.), just make sure the hull shape is largely unchanged from the Enterprise-D and/or U.S.S. Venture.

- I'm partial to the name 'Invicta' for the ship because it's the Latin word for 'Undefeated.' Considering how part of this ship's mission is to bring good will and improve morale wherever it goes in the Federation, a name like that could prove beneficial.

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Whatever is done though, PLEASE keep the technobabble to a minimum. Just because I, as a Trek fan/Good-natured Mad Scientist, can understand it all rather easily doesn't mean that everyone else can.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Assuming some Federal employee doesn't get a MASSIVE case of Butt-Hurt, you should see a funny NSA parody starring the Porn Star Sasha Grey. The link made of her name in the last sentence is to her Wikipedia article, just in case there's someone out there that hasn't heard of this chick with seemingly no self-respect at all.

There's no nudity in the video and it should be work-safe but, you may not want to take any chances.

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that states can no longer be judged by voting discrimination that went on decades ago, in a decision that marks the end of a major civil-rights era reform.

The 5-4 ruling rewrites a key tool of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which for five decades has given the federal government unprecedented say in everything from how some states draw their congressional maps to where they place polling locations.

But the justices said after five decades, the law has had a dramatic effect in ending discrimination in voting, and said Congress must now come up with new ways of deciding who still needs federal oversight.

Beneath the legal ruling is a broader social statement, with the justices saying that a state cannot be perpetually held responsible for past discrimination if there’s no evidence that it still exists.

So, the SCOTUS struck down parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act because they were giving the Feds power over polling places in some areas. The Feds were given that power in the Act because of discrimination that happened decades ago.

On one hand, I'm happy that the Feds have less power (certainly a welcome change considering what's been going on with them since 9/11...) and that the power is now in the hands of the States where it belongs.

On the other hand, I am concerned about a few rural counties in certain states where there are still a lot of 'old-fashioned' attitudes about minorities and whether or not they should be treated as equals. Either way, at least Uncle Sam doesn't have his fist up the States' collective asses on this issue anymore. It should be a step in the right direction.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Since last December, I have been creating HTML pages in my spare time. This is done to re-teach myself how to program in that language. (I dabbled with it in college a little.) They are just fancy lists of my various collections of things like Video Games, DVD's and such. There's also a hyperlink on each title, taking the viewer to a page containing info on the game/movie/TV Show/whatever.

Anyway, the HTML List project made major progress tonight. The Game Collection has long been finished/consistently updated. So, I have moved on to the Home Video Collection. It has been split between the 4 formats (VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray & UMD) and there's a different section for each genre on each format's page.

As of tonight, all four sections are in the proper list format and the Hyperlink insertion for each title has begun. UMD, being the shortest section, is now done. Except the DVD list (which is easily the largest of the four) NONE of these will have a menu option like the game page. They are too short to need one.

After that massive part of the task is finished, I begin the largest and most awesome part: My music collection. \m/O_O\m/

- Lord Publius

UPDATE: 25 Jun 2013 - 19:06EST

VHS, UMD & Blu-Ray pages are finished. Work on the DVD page has been started. Should be done by this weekend at the latest.

UPDATE: 7 July 2013 - 03:14EST

The DVD list has long been done and updated/modified several times by now.

"We
are mad, not only individually, but nationally. We check manslaughter
and isolated murders; but what of war and the much-vaunted crime of
slaughtering whole peoples?

There are no limits to our greed,
none to our cruelty. And as long as such crimes are committed by stealth
and by individuals, they are less harmful and less portentous; but
cruelties are practiced in accordance with acts of senate and popular assembly, and the public is bidden to do that which is forbidden to the individual.

Deeds that would be punished by loss of life when committed in secret,
are praised by us because uniformed generals have carried them out.

Man, naturally the gentlest class of being, is not ashamed to revel in
the blood of others, to wage war, and to entrust the waging of war to
his sons, when even dumb beasts and wild beasts keep the peace with one
another."

Now, to a certain extent, all of you Neurotypicals know how I as an Aspie have felt for most of my life. Not knowing who to trust and having your dreams robbed from you is a pretty horrible way to live. I would not wish it on many people.

This part really stuck out to me...

"This self-sufficiency, while highly prized in our culture, has a dark side: it leaves little empathy to spare for those who cannot survive on their own."

It's true. As much as we'd like for everyone to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, that is not always possible. That was part of the reason why I took a job with Uncle Sam. I didn't want to burden my parents (or anyone else) by living in their house and using their resources. The wisdom of that decision has proven to be a mixed bag at best but, no one promised that life came with many guarantees.

"Working-class youths come to believe that if they have to make it on their own, then everyone else should, too. Powerless to achieve external markers of adulthood like marriage or a steady job, they instead measure their progress by cutting ties, turning inward and numbing themselves emotionally.

We don’t want to go back to the 1950s, when economic stability and social solidarity came at the cost of exclusion for many Americans. But nor can we afford the social costs of going forward on our present path of isolation. The social and economic decline of the American working class will only be exacerbated as its youngest members make a virtue out of self-blame, distrust and disconnection. In order to tell a different kind of coming-of-age story, we need to provide these young men and women with the skills and support to navigate the road to adulthood. Our future depends on it."

This statement, despite ending in a preposition (shame on you, Jennifer M. Silva), also rings true. There can be no going back, not even to an era that seems like a Golden Age of prosperity. While that was certainly true for many in the 1950's, it sure wasn't for all. (Especially if you were Black and living south of the Mason-Dixon line.) Pretending to be the Gary Cooper-type and just getting through it with hard work no longer works. The world changed and our approach to problem solving will also have to change.

So, how do we solve this problem? I'm not sure but, I do have a few ideas. To me, the answer is likely to involve deregulation of Government, severe changes to things like tax policy, import tariffs, social welfare programs and even foreign policy. After all, world peace and prosperity for all can only be achieved in the long-term by increased global trade. Even if two countries hate each other, they won't go to war against each other if there is too much money at stake. Why do you think the English and the French actually get along nowadays? Lord knows they have many good reasons to hate each other.

Also, most of Humanity's current problems will disappear once we develop the technology of a Type-1 Civilization. According to the current gurus of the Physics world like Michio Kaku, that should happen in about 100 years from now. (Barring any kind of unforeseen tragedies like war, terrorism run amok or truly horrific natural disasters.) However, that will be the subject of another blog at another time.

Also, Dr. Kaku, I disagree about the Galactic Empire being a Type-3 civilization. The evidence for that in the Star Wars films is VERY sketchy at best.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Went to GameStop to see if they had one of the very few titles on my list that were cheaper there than on Amazon. I came back with new copies of Tomb Raider and Wolfenstein since there wasn't much difference in the price, if any. I picked up a used copy of Soul Calibur IV as well. Any game where I can play as the Dark Lord of the Sith and slice my enemies with a Light Saber is probably worth having in my collection.

I have the 3DS version of the Sonic game, which is mostly 2D and nowhere near as gorgeous as the home console versions. (Although, it was still quite good.) For some reason, SEGA didn't make a version for the Wii or WiiU and I didn't have either an XBOX 360 or PS3 until yesterday. I wonder what the console version will be like once it's mine.

I played the Mortal Kombat game last night while testing the used PS3 console that I purchased. (It was borrowed from a neutral 3rd party.) It's definitely not a button-masher like the old ones I played in the 1990's on SEGA Genesis and Super NES. However, it has Freddie Kruger in it as a playable character. Therefore, I am all too happy to learn the moves of a favorite character or two so I can unlock him (assuming there's no cheat code for that) and use him to haunt the Kombatants dreams. Muhuhahahaha...

I can't tell you anything about the Doom game other than it's a graphical update and slightly altered version of the original Doom 3 released to PC in 2005. That's good enough for me. Playing Doom games on consoles really sucked back in the 1990's and even in the 2000's when Doom 3 came out. (The Doom titles on Atari Jaguar, PS1 and N64 being notable exceptions.) That was always unfortunate since I'd rather play these kind of games with a controller as opposed to a keyboard and mouse. Getting gamepads to work with PC games was always such a bitch. Now though, I guess I don't have to worry about it anymore. Besides, I'm not sure any of my computers can run the PC version of the game.

Finally, I saw a copy of a Star Trek game on the shelf at that GameStop too, priced at $40. Looking it up on Amazon just now, I see I was right to not make this an impulse buy. I'll have to do some further research before deciding if I want it or not. Games based on movies and TV shows have a long history of being complete disasters, especially if they were rushed to market.

Happy 65th birthday to one of my preferred methods of recorded sound. I think that list of the best-selling records of all time on that list is rather flawed. There is a LOT of Heavy Metal albums that have sold tens of millions of records and you don't see them on that list. Also, I'm pretty sure at least *some* of the sales of Michael Jackson's Thriller album were on other formats besides LP. The copies I've had over the years were Cassette and CD.

Now, a longtime ally (the Irish Republic) is also calling the POTUS things like a war criminal and a hypocrite. I'm not shocked at any of this, either. Nor am I shocked that this Irish legislator is citing the civil war in Syria as an example of bad U.S. policy. If there were ever a conflict where we should NOT interfere, it would be that one. Regardless of which side wins, that side will still hate us. They think it's their religious duty to hate us and anyone else that is not a Muslim. Did the fact that some of them (particularly Iran) call the United States 'The Great Satan' not give you a clue?

We will never make friends with any of the exceptionally religious people in the Islamic world and we really should stop trying to make peace with them. They don't want it and won't listen to reason. The fact that we're offering an olive branch with one hand while fighting wars/hunting for terrorists in some of their countries doesn't help us to look genuine to them, either. There will be no peace as long as their hearts and minds are filled with irrational hatred for people who are different from them.

I've been getting interesting page views from all kinds of places that I never would have expected. Most (86 at last count) are from right here in the United States. Second place though, is from a rather unexpected source: Russia. (42)

Don't ask me how these people are finding my blog of all things but, this has definitely raised my eyebrow in a very Vulcan kinda way.

There's also breakdowns of what kind of browsers and operating systems people use to view my varying online rants. It's usually Windows and Linux for their OS and either Firefox or Chrome for their browser. I'm not sure why that's even relevant but, thanks for tracking it, Blogspot.

Now, if someone would just leave comments so I have feedback on what the readers would like to read...

The same day I took the pictures of the Camaro cars in the last post, I had also come upon a really sweet-looking Black C4 Corvette a few blocks down the street. I don't know what year it is since I didn't check the VIN number. However, I do know that it's between model years 1990 and 1996 because of the body style.

Friday, June 21, 2013

This is a continuation of a story started in a previous post, which you can see here.

I sampled the wares earlier tonight and decided that $60 for this 160GB Original Model was a good deal. The co-worker of mine sold it because he had upgraded to a 320GB PS3 Slim some time ago. He decided on $60 for a sale price because that's all GameStop would have given him. He might have been able to make more if he sold it on eBay or something but, that's not my problem. (heh heh heh...)

He decided to part with the one PS3 controller he had left and just buy another. He also provided a game in the form of The Amazing Spider-Man. I played the game as part of my test of the hardware, along with 3 others that we borrowed from someone else. It seems to be fun enough. I guess I can keep it for a while before deciding whether or not I want to re-sell it to someone. That's not too terribly likely since I don't trade/re-sell many games.

Now to find some of those games mentioned in the last post (and a new controller or two) at a GameStop or second-hand store instead of buying new stuff... I can afford new stuff but, why not try to cut the costs a little? Also, I plan to add Soul Calibur IV to the list of games for this console. Any fighting game where I can play as Darth Vader is likely to kick some serious ass.

There was also some talk about how the console won't need to be 'always online' anymore and now all you have to do is set it up online. Then, you need not ever take it online again. Okay... Am I the only one that thinks they are just trying to pull off the ultimate CYA maneuver here? Besides, what's to stop them from re-instituting these restrictive DRM requirements again in a system update a few months down the line?

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I found an unboxing video on IGN for a strange version of the Wii that I had never heard of before. It's called the Wii Mini. Why does that remind me of an iPod?

Anyway, let's see what we have here: A Wii that...

1.) Does NOT have the ability to use component cables for the best possible picture...

2.) No backward compatibility for GameCube games or GameCube controllers for certain Wii games that can use them...

3.) No internet access, either...

I know it's Canada-only but, why did Nintendo bother making this device? It's market appeal is going to be very low.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

A co-worker mentioned something about selling a 160GB PS3 today. I didn't get many details since there was no time to discuss it in-depth. All I know for sure is that he no longer has any games or a controller, either. I mentioned this to one of my neighbors. She said she might have an extra controller somewhere in her storage space. She's not sure if it's for PS3 or not but, it is a PlayStation controller of some type.

Assuming that everything goes as I have just laid it out, I would need to go find some games. Fortunately for me, there are a number of titles for the system that I find interesting and they are as follows...

So, if I get this console for $60 (and assuming it has everything it would need to function) all 11 game titles for $245 and this controller for free... I'd be spending approximately $305 for a very powerful console and 11 world-class AAA gaming titles. That sounds like a pretty good deal. Of course, I doubt I'd be ordering all those games at once.

The only potential downsides are possible hardware failure (which from what I have read is considered statistically low) and needing to free up one of my TV set's 2 HDMI ports. They are both currently occupied by my Blu-Ray player and my Nintendo WiiU. Since all PS3 models have a built-in Blu-Ray player, I guess my stand-alone unit will be getting boxed up and put in storage until my permanent return to my home in New Orleans.

Also, I may inherit the PS3 my younger brother bought years ago to act as a 'cheap' Blu-Ray player. At the time, that made sense to do. Now, Blu-Ray is ubiquitous. My stand-alone player was acquired from a local Wal-Mart location on sale for $68 around Christmas time of 2011. They are likely to be even cheaper now. 'Why would you be inheriting your brother's game console?' you ask? Well, he doesn't have much use for it anymore. (Or so he says...) Also, I have already inherited a console from him before. After two years of play, he got bored with his XBOX and gave it to me as a Birthday gift in 2004. I have enjoyed that console immensely and I'm sure I'd have a similar experience with PlayStation 3.

Monday, June 17, 2013

I just read a LONG list of keywords that will make the NSA curious about you. The ones that stuck out to me were 'Capricorn' and 'Tempest', of all things. So, I could either be talking about my star sign for some reason (probably while trying to score with a chick that believes in that crap) or an old Atari arcade game, one of Shakespeare's plays or the weather and then the NSA is going to think I'm a potential threat. Fucking idiots...

Sometimes, I suspect the only thing keeping any of our civil liberties safe is the fact that our government is woefully incompetent. Thank you VERY much to the Founding Fathers and Framers for building that into the system. Without it, we'd probably be slaves right now.

Still, George Orwell warned us and too many of us didn't listen. Our one-time protectors are quickly becoming the Thought Police. These are very frightening times. I'm sure the NSA would try to deny this but, the days where I would even consider trusting Uncle Sam are long gone. (Assuming that such a thing was ever really possible.)

Also, Ozzy Osbourne proved quite sage-like when he talked about this in one of his songs entitled Rock and Roll Rebel... all the way back in 1983. That means that 30 years ago someone who was often stoned out of his mind could still see the potentially dangerous future. How did so many of the rest of us not see it coming for ourselves? Just read the lyrics for yourself to see what I mean...

"They couldn't see what I thought would be so obvious
They hide behind the laws they make for all of us
The ministry of truth, that deals with pretense
The ministry of peace, that sits on defense
I'm washing my hands of what they're trying to do
It's a me, It's a me, It's a you, It's a you

I'm just a rock n' roll rebel
I'll tell you no lies
They say I worship the devil
They must be stupid or blind
I'm just a rock n' roll rebel

They live a life of fear and insecurity
And all you do is pay for their prosperity
The ministry of fear, that won't let you live
The ministry of grace, that doesn't forgive
Do what you will to try and make me conform
I'll make you wish that you had never been born

'Cause I'm a rock n' roll rebel
I'll do what I please
Yes I'm a rock n' roll rebel
And I'm as free as the breeze
I'm just a rock n' roll rebel

They'll try playin' with your hearts
They know it rules your head
If they could read between the lines
You know they'd see the real face

God only knows why they couldn't see the obvious
Is it because they manifest the incubus?
The ministry of war, that got caught in the draft
The ministry of joy, that still hasn't laughed
When it's boiled down and the day's at an end
I'll give you no bullshit and I'll never pretend

'Cause I'm a rock n' roll rebel
I'll tell you no lies
They say I worship the devil
Why don't they open their eyes?
I'm just a rock n' roll rebel
A rock n' roll rebel
I'm just a rock n' roll rebel"

Life itself is inherently dangerous and Government will never be able to keep you completely safe. In the end, you are always on your own. So, protect yourself instead of depending on them. All they are likely to do is let you down and take away from your God-given civil liberties in the process. As the Founders would say if they were hear with us today, Government may be a necessary evil but it is still quite EVIL.

Don't trust them. Don't give them an inch of wiggle room because they'll just take a mile instead. Don't believe claims they make without strong evidence that can be verified as accurate. And finally, ALWAYS remember that nothing will ever threaten the American people more than their own Government. As the NSA spying scandal shows, it doesn't even matter if it's through legitimate malice or just sheer incompetence.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

I went onto Amazon tonight to look for a few accessories for an N64 that I recently acquired. (Yes, Amazon often has things of that nature.) Somehow, I started going through all the items I found on the site and saved to my bookmarks over the years. I started going through the folder full of arcade machines of varying types, everything from classic video games like Galaga to air hockey to skeeball.

I saved them all over the years because I wanted to start a business that was part arcade and part family-friendly restaurant. Basically, a Chuck E. Cheese that didn't have an animatronic puppet show or a pothead teenager wearing a giant anthropomorphic rat costume that will frighten small children. There are a few restaurants like this already and they are growing as a successful business model. However, they are all sports bars that just so happen to have a lot of new and used arcade games intended to attract people looking to relive their youth. That's not what I had in mind. I would want my place to be family friendly because kids pump more quarters into the game machines.

I sure hope that idea proves true because buying these machines is not going to be cheap. Here's the prices I found for various games I've found (and sometimes have actually played in an arcade, movie theater, et al.) over the years. Please note that this list is a mix of classic games sure to illicit feelings of nostalgia and modern games that are just lots of fun. (Or seemed to be fun from the product description.)

* = Video game machine I have actually played in real life somewhere...

Adding up the cost just for the machines listed here comes up to a whopping $105,499.72. Holy cow! How do those glorified sports bars with arcade games manage to get a business loan?! It's beginning to look like I'd need to be a millionaire just to get the business off the ground!

There are cheaper versions of some of these games. However, those cheaper versions either have smaller screens or they are stand-up machines instead of a cockpit design, which would reduce the fun factor. Trying to cut cost on the actual machines may not lead to greater profits in the future. Also, please note that I'm not done with my research. There are several types of redemption games that offer tickets and prizes that I want to have as well. (Claw machines, Stacker, et al.) What would an arcade be without them? They generate so much revenue. If I offer good prizes (like game consoles, points cards for console's online services, movie box sets on DVD/Blu-Ray, et al.), I might also make enough money from them to justify the time, trouble and expense. ;)

I've also noticed that most of these games are either a racing game or a shooter of some kind. That isn't a whole lot of variety but, it's also a sign of the times in arcade machines. Ever since the home consoles caught up (and largely surpassed) the arcades in visual/sound quality, most gamers have been staying home. The only genres that continue to succeed would be racing, shooters, fighting games and a few different types of puzzle/redemption games. The racing games in arcades do well because the home consoles can't give you the same experience; even with a driving wheel, gearshift and vibrating gamer's chair. The shooters survived because home systems always treated light gun games as an afterthought. That has started to change since the Wii and WiiU have made them MUCH easier to make/market without the need for additional accessories. I don't know if the trend will continue but, I won't get upset if it does. I like 'on-rails shooters' like the House of the Dead games.

I'm not about to give up on the idea but, it will require me to find a source of funding that actually believes in the business model. Good thing I'm actually a VERY good writer. Authoring a killer business plan shouldn't be difficult at all.

Irregardless of what actually happens, I will someday get something like that machine with the 130 vintage games in it, the Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga machine and the Air Hockey table. I know I can find places for all of them in my house and/or garage. After all, $7,035.81 is a small price to pay to have my own little personal arcade. :)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

DEFINTELY hitting 'like' for WiiU if I ever see that pic on Facebook again... Maybe 'share' too if PS4 turns out to be a worthy system... The jury is still out on that one for me.

Yes, I can be a bit of an asshole at times.

Yes, I do wish that M$ would crash and burn here, making more room in the market for much more worthy (not to mention Non-Orwellian) consoles without so much DRM bullshit that has NEVER worked well anyway.

No, I'm not a fanboy for Sony, Nintendo or any other company.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I liked the first XBOX very much. Too bad the 360 was an unreliable pile of junk and that this 3rd iteration is just pure crapola.

A blue rectangle in the canton (referred to specifically as the "union") bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars.

The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America.

These additions make 664 albums in my collection on either LP, Cassette or CD. The album selected to be #666 is the record I was going into the store to special order today. It's a picture disc LP copy of the classic 1982 Iron Maiden album entitled 'The Number of the Beast.' It will be here sometime next week.

"Get out your salt shakers but an anonymous engineer on the Xbox One team has taken to Pastebin to help clear up a few misunderstandings about Xbox One's DRM. In short, Microsoft wanted to bring the concept of Steam to the Xbox.

The DRM around the Xbox One has certainly caused a bit of controversy since its announcement but if the Pastebin post is to be believed, Microsoft actually has gamers' best interests at heart. The post talks about Steam's beginnings and how many didn't actually like the service at first, adding that it wasn't until Steam started offering insane deals on games that consumers adopted the platform.

Microsoft is apparently trying to bring that same model to the console with the Xbox One that is dramatically different to what the consumer is accustomed too. It's a lofty bet, but one that Microsoft is willing to take to help spur on digital distribution of console games."

Steam-like service? Who asked for a Steam-like service on a console?! I sure didn't... (Especially since OnLive has already been doing this for years and has largely failed to make a dent in the console and PC game markets.)

This sounds like a 'Cover Your Ass' maneuver to me... Also, I don't want a damned Steam-type arrangement. I want a physical copy of the game on the damned game disc that I paid for and I shouldn't have to download ANYTHING at all to play. That's why I don't buy many PC games!

Consoles are supposed to be the simple, care-free and MUCH cheaper alternative to the complexities and compatibility/driver/hardware issues of PC gaming and I like it that way. M$ seems to be trying to change that against the market's will and my own personal will as an individual. No dice.